China announces visa-free travel for Australians visiting up to 30 days (previously 15 days)

[Flashback]

It is BS 99.998% of the time, for 99.9998% of the visitors who enter; but ask the 0.0001% of foreigners who got caught, like:
- The two Michaels from Canada
- Five AstraZeneca staffs detained by China
- People who work in finance
- other industries

So, it is a bit of a pain to carry a passport; but is the hassle worth risking going to gaol for the next 10 years? It is up to each individual to decide. For me, it's not worth it.

And specifically, I had been asked multiple times for my passport when buying train tickets in China in 2018 2019. Not having passport would have been a pain, since I could not buy train tickets online as a foreigner.

And this doesn't just apply to China. You should exercise the same level of caution when going to any third world countries where corruption is common, and any police or authoritarian state where government officials are always looking for ways to justify their jobs.

Yes, this happened to me in Madagascar. A night in jail was not fun at all, take my word for it.

 

[elanshin]

I mean you can also pick up a wife with your passport although its a lot less of a thing now.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

I mean you can also pick up a wife with your passport although its a lot less of a thing now.

You don't need a Passport for those activities - a foreign face and wallet full of cash and you are off to the races - so I have been told

 

[Chicken]

So what is a normal train ticket?

Non high speed cross city. Just normal train services. For example: Haining 海宁 to Shanghai. It is intercity, but you can take normal train / non high speed to save money, since it's only 90 minutes.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Non high speed cross city. Just normal train services.

Yes that is correct then - any train which extends beyond originating city limits will require Passport to purchase tickets - that has always been and still is the case

 

[SYD]

This is the chit from the paper landing card given back to you by immigration. Note point #4.

Someone visiting on business might be able to ignore that, but a tourist would be crazy because almost everything (admission tickets, trains) etc is linked to your PP and they either scan it or check the details.

 

[elanshin]

You don't need a Passport for those activities - a foreign face and wallet full of cash and you are off to the races - so I have been told

But a chinese face and an aussie passport is even bigger